Scaffold



Dec. 27, 1927. 1,653,763

H. a. GAI-'PERS SCAFFOLD Filed ABZ. 18. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet? fil)Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

HERMAN B. GAFFERS, F WATEEVLIET, NEW YORK.

l scansioni).

Applicaticnfled August 18, 1924. S'erialNo. 732,868.

This invention relates to improvements in scaffolds ot the type in whichare employed ladder sections with other parts and detachableconnectingmeans` adapted to be quickly assembledand taken dovvn.

.it serious objection to the use of present day scatiolds oi this typeis the diiiici-ilty eX- perienced in obtaining rigid connections betweenthe ladder sections through the rungs thereofA with other parts onaccount ot varia tion in theshape and size oi the ladder rungs due tounequal'shrinkage or' the Wood ofthe rungs, a condition commonly7 niet`with.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improv-ed scatloldot the tlvpe relierred to, to provide improved connecting means betweenthe ruiigs ot the ladder sections and other partsthat `while providingfor the rapid and easy assembly ot the scatold will, at the saine time,aord a rifrid connection between the parts, andby which Lthe ditlicultyreierredto isentirelyavoided.

The invention, with other objects and advantages thereof, andtheparticular construction, combinations and .arrangements of partscomprising' the sanie,u*ill be understood from the hereinafter containeddetailed description, when considered inconnection with the accompanyingdrawings, 'termine part hereof, `and illust-rating embodiments of theinvention.

In the drawings: l

Figure l is a perspective view of a section ot a scatlold constructed inaccordance the line ldd Figure Figs. and 6 `are detail perspective vievsotinenibers of the connecting means.

Fig. i' is a detail side .elevation illustrating a iuodiiied torni ,ot`connecting means.

The invention .con'iprehends a `scatold including a. ladder section vanda rail.' brace,

'or other scaffold member associated `therewith, and provided with aconnecting device having a yoke part to embrace a'rung of the laddersection and Which is formed` tapering or provided with a tapering socketand: is self adiusting to compensate for variation 1n the contour andsize of the ladder rungs, due to unequal shrinkage .or other causesandwill tightly` clasp vor Aclamp yWithin the `saine a lladder `rungandattorda filjin rigid connection bet-Ween the parts. The vention furthercontemplates a ,connecting device ot this kind havingan adjustable platemember .adapted to 4bridge thfefopen Vend of the yoke partand carryingaclanip screw to engage the ladderlrungs atone yside and assist inholding' thelsaiiie in `tight fittinc enoaoement with the .yokepait i e.n i1 llfhile specific embodiments `of tlieinvew tion are illustrated inthe drawings, it will or course be understood that changes andyvariations in `'the particular constructions shown, andthe carrying outoftheinvention in other forms,a.sfivill appeal to those skilled in theart and falling' vWithin lthe scope ot the appended claims'inay bepracticed lWithout `departinp` ltroni the fspirit ,ot theiinvention. Y vi f i The section of scatl'olding illustrated rin the drawings vrby vvayot eXaniplecomprises vertical ladderl sections `A-'A an Ainterinodiaterail member }B,aiid inclinedstriitsor braces 0*(3, the rail .member4Band the f integral and conveniently, as shown, ,being ,1n the formyof@ casting The reke-raft 2 is provided with .oppositely inclined:inner side faces 2a, @converging toivard the clesed end `2C thereoi`providing@ tapering interior formation or socketividest at .the open.end

of the yoke, the constriiction being V.self ad.

justing` to compensate iior `v ariations1 andfirregularities `respectingthe ,contour or size of tliegladder rung, tightly clasping thepladder4rungs when :engaged therewith arid-always insuring Ia .fir-in rigid.connection between the parts `Z3 designates a plate meme ber:adjustable longitudinally of rthe plate portion l adapted tobef-positioned .Withits forward part 3a bridging` the openjend of thevoke 2 or retractedto oneside ofthe yoke, said` plate member 3 lat itsgfQIWald part lll carrying' a `clamp screw fl adapted to bear againstone side ot a ladder rune engaged by the yoke and to .torce and hold theparts in tight fitting ,engatenu-mt. The clamp screw el extendstransversely oit the ttor "ard part 8a of the plate member 3, engaging'a threaded opening therein, this portion ot the plate member 3 beingshown thickened and provided with a recess 3" at its under vside toreceive the head Lit of the clamp screw Ll. when the same is adj ustedto its innermost position. The plate member 3 has a reduced outer endportion 3 to lit within a seat on the yoke' 2 formed by anopening 5 inone sido of the yoke when the plate member 3 is adjusted to extendacross theopen end of the yokeY provision thus being made Jor tirmlyholding' the forward portion olf the plate member to the yoke againstoutward displacement when the clamp screw et is tightened up against aladder rune' within the yoke.

The plate portion '1 is provided at one side with a longitudinallyextending boss o1' raised part and an elongated slot (i extendingthrough the plate portion and boss. The plate member 3 is slotted at 3c,as showiny t0 lit over and slidably engage the boss. The boss has a rearportion'T of less thickness than the forward part 7' thereof, and theplate member 55 is of a thickness less than the thickness of the forwardportion `7 ot the bossand `ogreater than the thickness of the rearportion 7 of the boss. The means for securing the'connectinp; device tothe intermediate rail member B, braces C, or

other scaliolding members, comprises a pairV of bolts 8, 9, extendingthrough the scaffolding member and the elongated slot 6 of the plateportion 1. The bolts 8, 9, are spaced as shown, at opposite ends of theslot G, the bolt 8' extending' adjacent the forward part. 'a of theboss, and the bolt 9 being located adjacent the reduced rear portion 7of the boss. 8 designates a nut on the bolt 8 to remain tightly turnedup to clamp the plato port ion l to the scaffolding meunier, a washer 10being' shown `interposed between the nut, 8 and the thicker portion T otthe boss, the washer being shown oi' a size to project over but tree ofthe side portions ot the plato member 3. The plate member' 3 isadjustably secured to the plate portion 1 by `means of a winged clampingnut 11 and washer 12, the winged nut 11 when tightened up clamping'theplate member 3, through the washer 12, against the upper :tace of theplate portion l. As will be understood by loosening the winged nut 11the plate member 3 will be free for sliding movement on the plate portion 1 and may he adjusted as desired to bridge the open end of the yokeor adjusted Y to a position to one side thereof.

In many instances in which the arrange-l l nient 40f' theintermediateconnecticut rails.,

braees,or other scaffolding members which are provided with theconnecting devices is such that the wcightor lorces tend to force theyoke into engagement with the ladder rune'. the clamj'iingg'` screw ,isnot essential, and the invention crnnprehends constructions in which theclamp screw is not en'lployed, such a modilied construction beingillustrated in Figure 7 ot the drawings, the construction illustrated inthis 4View beine' tho same as that shown in Figures l to (3 o'l the d'a.wings, except that the same does not have a clamp screw carried bythe adjustable plate member. `In Figure 7, illustrating' the modifiedconstruction, la designates an interme diate rail member to which issecured by screws 15, 1G, the connecting device compri ing the plateportion 17, yoke 18, and adj instable plate member 19, the latter inthis instance simply acting; as a guard.

lt will be noted that by the jiarticular con struction and arrangementot parts heroinbe'liore set Forth connecting' means oit a sinipleetlicient nature is afforded capable ot being quickly engaged with auddetached from the ladder rangs, providingr for the rapid assembling' andtaking down ot the scaffolding', and at the same time thc constructionis such as to always insure rigid connections between the parts, thedevice lieing: self adjusting' or readily accommfr dating itself tovariations or irregularities in the ladder rangs so that such variationsor imperfections do not etlcct the rigidity of the scaffolding.

What I claim is:

1. A scaffold including a ladder sectioin` a rail member associatedtherewith. and conncctingr means on the rail member including a plateportion to fit against a face ot the rail member with a yoke at one endot the plate portion to tightly eniln'afm a rune' ot the ladder section,said yoke inning oppositely inclined inner sidciaces converging towardthe closed end thereof. and said yoke at one. sido having a. seatloi-ated inwardly oi the outer end ot' the sido ol' the volto andextending inwardly o'l` the sido olf the yoke, a plate member i'iuaunledon said plate portion 'l'or adjustment longitudinally therer'il andadapted to be positioned lo lnfidn'c the open end ol the yoke with oneend extend ing into the said seat on the yoke, a clamp screw carried byand extending transversely `through the plate member near one endthereof to engage andtightly hold a runcf ot the ladder section inengagement with the inclined inner side faces ol the yoke, means 'l'orsecuring the plate portion to the rail member, and means ttor adjustably`se curing' the plate member to the plate portion.

Q. A sca'ft'old including a ladder section, a rail membe' associatedtherewith, connecting means on the rail, member inabidingr a lli() lll')`plate portion to fit again-sta face vof the rail ineinber, and a yokeat one end of the plate portion to embrace a rung of the ladder section,said plate portion having a longitudinally extending boss at one sideand being provided with a slot extending through the saine and the boss,a plate ineinber adapted to bridge the open end of the yoke, the plateinernber being provided `.vith

a longitudinal slot to fitover said boss and being slidable on saidplate portion, said boss having a portion thereof of greater thiek-Ynes-s than the plate member and projecting above the outer face thereof,and the boss 3. A scaifold `including a ladder section, a rail ineniberassoeiatedtherewith, and oonnecting means on the rail ineinber includinga plate portion fitting against a face of the rail inenibei: and havinga Ueshaped yoke at one end thereof adapted to tightly elainp a rung ofthe ladder section between the side walls thereof, said yoke having`straight inn-er side Wallsv of susbtantial length extending from theouter end thereof to its bottoni part at a substantial inclinationtoward each other and converging toward the boitoin part of the yoke,and the space between the said inclined side Walls relative to thediameter of the rung of the ladder section being such as to compensatefor variations in the cross sectional size of the rung of the ladderseoiion so that when the voke is engaged with the rung under preesure,the rung will be spaced froni the inner bottoni part of the yoke andheld wedged between the inclined side Walls thereof to provide a rigidconnection between the parts.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix iny si gn ature.

HERMAN B. GAFFERS.

